New strategic plan is already making an impact in Philadelphia schools

Superintendent Tony Watlington talks with a student outside the Paul L. Dunbar School in Philadelphia. (Image courtesy of the School District of Philadelphia)When Tony Watlington was appointed superintendent of the School District of Philadelphia in June of 2022, he inherited a district facing significant problems including crumbling facilities, stagnant academic achievement, staff turnover, and gun violence. 

Despite the monumental challenges, Watlington remained optimistic and even ambitious, repeatedly stating publicly that one of the goals of the district's 2023-2028 strategic plan, Accelerate Philly, was to transform the city's school system into "the fastest improving large, urban school district in the nation."

The strategic plan drew from sources including a Listening and Learning Tour and survey, and a Transition Team report that included a list of 91 short- and long-term recommendations to drive improvements across five areas:

• Student Achievement
• Operations
• Anti-Racist District Culture
• Community Engagement & Communications
• Enriching & Well-Rounded School Experiences

Under Watlington's leadership, the school system is rapidly making dramatic changes, from reorganizing the Learning Network structure across the city and reorganizing the Division of Academic Services, to delivering the city's first ever State of Public Education address in January to report on progress being made and advocate for further investment.

Early results are showing the changes are already having an impact. In his address, Watlington cited:

• Student academic achievement increased in 13 out of 17 areas, including 6 percentage points in Grade 3 Math and and 11th Grade Literature
• Teacher attendance in the District improved 7 percentage points
• Student attendance in the District improved 3 percentage points
• Student dropouts decreased by nearly 300
• Graduation Rate (4-Year Cohort) increased 3 percentage points 

In February, the district announced that the Education Recovery Scorecard released by Harvard University’s Center for Education Policy Research and The Educational Opportunity Project at Stanford University found that Philadelphia is outpacing other large urban districts nationwide, and similar districts in Pennsylvania, in recovering from the pandemic, particularly in reading and math.